Matching edges of base and cover of a tool box

ABSTRACT

A tool box includes a base and a cover which is pivotably connected to the base. Each of the base and the cover has a periphery and a matching edge located at a distance from the periphery. The two respective matching edges are in contact with each other when the cover is mounted on the base, and a gap is defined between the periphery of the cover and the periphery of the base. The matching edges and the base and the cover are made to be different colored.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the matching edges of the base and the cover of a tool box so as to have an aesthetic presentation when the cover is in its close position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional tool box is disclosed in FIG. 1 and generally includes a base 11 and a cover 10 which is pivotably connected to a side of the base 11 and can be close onto the base 11. The cover 10 has a locking device 102 on a side thereof so as to secure the cover on the base 11. The cover 10 and the base 11 are made by way of blowing molding wherein plastic material is melted and blown into a mold so as to form a desired shape. Nevertheless, the plastic material shrinks after the temperature is reduced so that the periphery of the cover 10 and the base 11 may be changed and cannot matched with each other as shown in FIG. 1A. A slit 101 could be seen at the matching area or surplus material has to be removed by extra labor. The change of shape on the periphery of the cover 10 and the base 11 reduces the aesthetic feature and the commercial value of the tool box.

The present invention intends to provide a tool box wherein the cover and the base each have a matching edge located at a distance from the outer periphery such that a gap about 1 mm is defined when the two matching edges are matched with each other. By this way, the shortcoming of the conventional tool box is not noticed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool box which comprises a cover having a periphery and a first matching edge is located at a distance from the periphery of the cover. A base has a periphery and a second matching edge is located at a distance from the periphery of the base. The first matching edge contacts the second edge when the cover is covered onto the base. A gap is defined between the periphery of the cover and the periphery of the base.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a conventional tool box;

FIG. 1A shows a slit defined between the two respective peripheries of the cover and the base of the conventional tool box;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly removed, of the tool box of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show that the two respective matching edges contact with each other;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show another embodiment of the two respective matching edges in contact with each other;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show yet another embodiment of the two respective matching edges in contact with each other, and

FIG. 6 shows that the periphery of the base and the cover includes a pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tool box of the present invention comprises a cover 2 which is pivotably connected to a side of a base 3, and a locking device 22 is connected to a side of the cover 2 so as to secure the cover 2 to the base 3. The cover 2 and the base 3 are made by way of blowing molding. The cover 2 has a periphery 21 and a first matching edge 20 is located at a distance from the periphery 21 of the cover 2. The base 3 has a periphery 31 and a second matching edge 30 is located at a distance from the periphery 31 of the base 3. The first matching edge 20 contacts the second edge 30 when the cover 2 is covered onto the base 3, and a gap “A” is defined between the periphery 21 of the cover 2 and the periphery 31 of the base 3.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the first matching edge 20 protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the cover 2 and the second matching edge 30 protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the base 3. The width of the gap “A” is the sum of the widths of the first matching edge 20 and the second matching edge 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the first matching edge 20 protrudes from the surface of the periphery of the cover 2 and includes a recess. The second matching edge 30 protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the base 3 and is inserted in the recess.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the first matching edge 20 includes recess defined in a surface of the periphery 21 of the cover 2 and the second matching edge 30 protrudes from the surface of the periphery 31 of the base 3 and is inserted in the recess.

In order to have distinguishable and aesthetic features, the first matching edge 20 and the cover 2 are made to have different colors, and the second matching edge 30 and the base 3 are made to have different colors.

FIG. 6 shows that the periphery 21 of the cover 2 and the periphery 31 of the base 3 are made to have a wave-shaped pattern so that when the cover 2 is mounted to the base 3, the gap “A” as mentioned above is presented as a pre-set pattern.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A tool box comprising: a cover having a periphery and a first matching edge located at a distance from the periphery of the cover, and a base having a periphery and a second matching edge located at a distance from the periphery of the base, the cover pivotably connected to a side of the periphery of the base, the first matching edge contacting the second matching edge, a gap defined between the periphery of the cover and the periphery of the base.
 2. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first matching edge protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the cover and the second matching edge protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the base.
 3. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first matching edge protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the cover and includes a recess, the second matching edge protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the base and is inserted in the recess.
 4. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first matching edge includes recess defined in a surface of the periphery of the cover and the second matching edge protrudes from a surface of the periphery of the base and is inserted in the recess.
 5. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first matching edge and the cover are made to have different colors.
 6. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second matching edge and the base are made to have different colors. 